University of Pennsylvania
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

The University of Pennsylvania actively participates in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the local level, with explicit support from institutional leadership.

• Zero Waste Policy Advocacy: Penn identified supporting Philadelphia’s Zero Waste Goal as a key strategy in its Climate and Sustainability Action Plan. As an official Zero Waste Partner with the City of Philadelphia, Penn collaborates with city officials to advocate for policies and initiatives that reduce municipal waste and increase recycling rates.
• Solid Waste Recycling Advisory Council Participation: Penn participates in Philadelphia’s Solid Waste Recycling Advisory Council, contributing expert recommendations and policy advocacy to improve waste management policies.
• Carbon Neutrality Legislation Advocacy: Penn provided written testimony for Philadelphia City Council Resolution No. 240069, demonstrating institutional support for carbon neutrality policies. This testimony explicitly endorsed the city’s commitment to carbon reductions and Penn’s alignment with these efforts.
• GreenFutures Program Advocacy: Through participation in the School District of Philadelphia’s GreenFutures program, Penn actively engages with policymakers to advocate for sustainability policies in K-12 education.
• $100 Million Environmental Remediation Investment: Penn’s $100 million pledge to Philadelphia public schools supports environmental hazard remediation, including asbestos and lead removal, directly contributing to municipal environmental policy goals.

The University of Pennsylvania engages in sustainability-related policy advocacy at the state level, with documented institutional leadership support. These advocacy efforts explicitly align Penn with state legislative initiatives aimed at decarbonization, water and sustainability:

• Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Advocacy: Penn formally supported Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state carbon trading initiative. Penn provided a signed institutional letter of support to the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor’s office, advocating for carbon emissions reductions and clean energy investments​. This letter is at the bottom.
• Penn hosts the annual Spring Water Policy Forum, hosting regional policy makers on issues of water. Themes have included: The Nexus of Climate Change, Nature-Based Solutions, and Combined Sewer Overflow Remediation in the Northeast Mega Region and Navigating Turbulent Waters: Managing the Compounding Water Management Challenges Facing Local Leaders in the Northeast Mega Region. The Forum will consists of an afternoon of panel discussions focused on themes, followed by the presentation of WaterNow Alliance's Emerging Leader Awards, a celebration of local leaders across the country who do the hard work of advancing innovative, sustainable, equitable, and climate resilient water solutions in their communities.

The University of Pennsylvania engages in national-level sustainability advocacy through explicit institutional commitments:

• As a part of US Green Building Council, University of Pennsylvania shared expertise and experience with city, state, and local leader on implementing mass timber into design projects. This included three on-campus events as a part of the 2024 Greenbuild tour: 
  • LEED and SITES Seamlessly Connect Penn Campus and Philadelphia
  • A Holistic Approach to Student Well-Being at Gutmann College House
  • Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse in Higher Education
  • Mass Timber in a Digital Work
• Hosts a podcast Energy Policy Now offering clear talk on the issues that define our relationship with energy and its impact on society and the environment.
• Penn Washington represents a strategic effort by the University of Pennsylvania to enhance its presence and influence in Washington, D.C. By fostering a collaborative environment between Penn’s diverse academic and research communities and the nation’s capital, Penn Washington aims to drive impactful dialogue, robust programming, and collaborative solutions. Penn Washington embodies the imperatives of the University of Pennsylvania’s strategic framework, In Principle and Practice, “to address Truth, Trust, and Democracy as one of the great challenges that command our attention, to deepen connections with neighbors and the world, and to foster leadership and service.” 

The University of Pennsylvania engages in direct advocacy for global sustainability policies, leveraging its institutional presence and leadership support:

• United Nations COP Advocacy: Penn participated in COP28 as an official observer, engaging with international policymakers on sustainability issues and advocating for fossil fuel transition policies and global climate finance solutions.
• Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) Advocacy: Penn, through its Environmental Innovations Initiative and Penn Global, secured observer status at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 16), advocating for global biodiversity protection policies​.
• International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) Policy Engagement: Penn’s membership in ISCN facilitates direct engagement with global policymakers to advocate for sustainable campus operations, research, and teaching initiatives aligned with international climate agreements.